This cycle it meant Sanders, Warren and Harris. All I care about is winning. The details take care of themselves later. In a nation with 9% more conservatives than liberals we don't have nearly the flexibility or potential for audacity as the GOP. Unfortunately our primary voters don't understand the math. and stupidly think we can take cues from the Republicans.
Hence the rationalization of a Bernie Sanders, with apparently no clue whatsoever how that is going to play out on September 24th. Or September 25th. Or October 18th.
We'll be on the defensive every one of those days, and all of the surrounding ones. One commercial even more shocking than the next. Water cooler and everywhere else.
There was a reason I posted that thread on election night 2018, with the astonishing exit poll percentage of Floridians who matter of factly rejected Andrew Gillum as too liberal for the state. I warned that there are always hints in the midterm.
Hillary Clinton was not a stain on the party's image. Republicans were thrilled to defeat her. But she was considered a strong representative Democrat. We were able to move in any direction we wished without tags.
Bernie Sanders would be another matter entirely. That would linger and linger. Again, I'm not sure the situational realities are understood. Imagine Trump defeating Sanders and then on the campaign trail in 2022. Trump would be ranting against the evils of socialism in every state: "Look at what we prevented in 2020. Thank god you helped me prevent that. Democrats are so determined to spread socialism across this country they nominated a guy who wasn't even a member of their party. Can you believe that? Not even a Democrat. But all they care about is socialism so they nominated him anyway. Socialism, socialism, socialism. They almost nominated him four years earlier. They want this country to be another Venezuela. And unless you elect Republicans across this great country you'll have one socialist after another determined to take away your doctor, take away your 401K -- that I exploded through the roof --, take away your guns, take away your church..."
That's exactly how it will play out, except in more bombastic language and style. Trump won't care at all that he long claimed Sanders was receiving an unfair shake. Once late summer 2020 arrives he'll salivate to condemn Sanders and everything he stands for, everything Trump can invent. Socialism will be linked to higher car insurance prices. Everything bad.
And once Americans associate a socialist with someone who lost a presidential campaign they will be even more eager to listen.
Congratulations to our presumptive Democratic nominee, Joe Biden!
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